Well I think in the context of the discussion television history- "best" is the wrong criteria. "Most important" or "most influential" or "most significant"- these can be determined objectively by Neilson ratings. But "Best" is subjective- what is "best" to one person may not be "best" to another.
Further more "best" is relative thing- based on the standards of the day. I know it's heresy for me- a nostalgia buff to say this- but I think most shows made in the 1950s were lousy by current days standards. Most '50s sitcoms seem so corny and trite now. Even highly regarded drama shows like "Playhouse 90" or "Four Star Playhouse" look cheap and amateurish by today's standards.
There are only a few shows from the 1950s that really stand up- "I love Lucy", "Burns and Allen", "You Never get Rich"(Sargent Bilko)are funny even today- but for the most part 1950s TV would bore people to death now.
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